Mousehole 1-2 Millbrook
Toolstation Western League Premier Division
Tuesday 16th August 2022
At Trungle Parc
SUMMARY
A high-energy display by both sides kept the crowd well entertained in a game that could have gone either way, but the visitors rebuffed Mousehole’s attacking instincts with good defensive organisation and made the most of their few chances
PRE-MATCH POINTS
It’s West versus East as another two Cornwall sides meet for the first of two League matches in ten days. They play each other again at Jenkins Park on Saturday week, and it could have been three in a row had Millbrook not been knocked out by Torpoint Athletic in last week’s FA Cup replay.
With six Cornwall sides in this season’s WLP, Mousehole have already won at Torpoint Athletic on the opening day (5-1) and drawn at home (1-1) against Saltash United. And this Saturday they travel again to Torpoint for a Preliminary Round FA Cup tie looking for the win that would take them through to their highest-ever tie in just their second year in the competition.
In the League, Millbrook lost their opening game 1-0 at promoted Sherborne Town, but have since recorded home wins against also-promoted Falmouth Town (3-1) and against Bitton (2-0).
Mousehole are unbeaten in all five matches played this season, with a win and two draws in the League together with a draw and a replay win in the FA Cup against Barnstaple Town. Last Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Ashton & Backwell United was played in sweltering heat, but today it’s much cooler and there’s also some welcome rain.
The hosts have captain Jack Calver back for his first appearance of the campaign after a pre-season injury, and Hayden Turner returns after a three-match absence, but striker Mark Goldsworthy has not yet recovered from a long-term injury.
THE KEY MOMENTS OF THE GAME
Mousehole are kicking towards the Cricket Club End
6 minutes: The first attempt on goal – Jack Calver fires high and wide from 25 yards
8 minutes: Paulo Sousa puts in a low cross from the left and keeper Chris Wearing is down quickly at his near post to push the ball out
9 minutes; Tallan Mitchell’s through ball splits the visitors’ defence but it’s just a bit too strong for Hayden Turner to collect
10 minutes: GOAL FOR MILLBROOK. The visitors go ahead with a very simple goal. TYLOR LOVE-HOLMES is unchallenged as he directs his header from a left-sided corner kick inside the far post.
17 minutes: Reece Thomson drives an 18-yard shot towards the near post which is deflected off a Millbrook defender for a corner kick
21 minutes: Mousehole are coming back looking for an equaliser. This time Jack Calver’s long diagonal ball is chested by Louis Price into the path of Andy Elcock coming into the penalty area at speed but it spurts out for a goal kick
24 minutes: A clear missed chance for Mousehole and a controversial incident. With the hosts on the attack, Referee Eva waves play on after a big accidental collision on the right between Louis Price and Millbrook’s Caleb Summerfield, leaving Josh Otto to race forward and roll the ball across towards the far post where Paulo Sousa stabs wide from six yards with just the keeper to beat. Play is then stopped for a couple of minutes for treatment to the injured players. Had that goal gone in, the visitors might not have been too pleased.
30 minutes: Both sides are guilty of misplaced passes as the game continues at a fast pace on an increasingly slippery surface.
40 minutes: Ollie Chenoweth makes an important save, cutting out at full stretch Sean Thomson’s danger-laden low cross from the left byeline
45+3 minutes: At half time it’s Mousehole 0-1 Millbrook.
The second half:
50 minutes: Reece Thomson turns on the 18-yard line and shoots over the bar
54 minutes: Millbrook press the home defence and a lobbed attempt from 30 yards goes wide with Ollie Chenoweth out of position
57 minutes: The visitors continue to threaten on the break. They create confusion at the back, Ollie Chenoweth coming to the rescue by pushing aside a goalbound shot
59 minutes: The same thing happens again, this time Tylor Love-Holmes’ low 30-yard drive skids off the wet surface and Ollie Chenoweth dives to touch it out for a corner
60 minutes: The corner comes in towards the near post and Jake Foster heads it wide under pressure
60 minutes: Two Mousehole substitutes – Louis Price is replaced by Callam Mconie, and Reece Thomson by Andy Watkins
63 minutes: Tallan Mitchell’s cross from the right is well defended at the near post at the expense of a corner
64 minutes: GOAL FOR MOUSEHOLE. Tallan Mitchell’s low flag kick poses no danger as it hits the first defender, but the ball spins out to JACK CALVER lurking 20 yards out and his trademark left-footer is in the net before anyone can react. Mousehole 1-1 Millbrook. This sets up an interesting last 25 minutes.
68 minutes: A huge chance for Mousehole to take the lead – Andy Elcock slides an astute pass through to Hayden Turner who’s just got the keeper in front of him but he side-foots past the post
72 minutes: Hayden Turner sprints to the byeline and his low cross is scrambled away just past the near post
78 minutes: Millbrook are under pressure and conceding free kicks in their own half. Hayden Turner swerves in a low one, keeper Wearing spills it but then dives on the loose ball as a goal looked likely. The keeper is injured and play is stopped for over two minutes.
81 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Jack Calver is replaced by Jared Sims
82 minutes: GOAL FOR MILLBROOK. The visitors’ pressing pays off, as SEAN THOMSON intercepts Paulo Sousa’s sideways pass midway through the Mousehole half and skilfully chips the ball past Ollie Chenoweth. Another very simple goal from an unforced error, but expertly executed. Mousehole 1-2 Millbrook.
85 minutes: Mousehole substitute – Paulo Sousa is replaced by Josh Magin
86 minutes: Millbrook are determined to hang on to their lead with ‘game management’ tactics. A series of very slowly taken throw ins and goal kicks cause the Referee to pointedly hold up his stopwatch.
90 minutes: There’s a fracas in the visitors’ penalty box as a clearance is thumped away and players go tumbling
90+5 minutes: Frantic defending in front of the Solomon Browne Stand as the ball is hacked off the line
90+6 minutes; Tallan Mitchell drives a half-chance on the right against the outside of the stanchion.
90+8 minutes: Referee Eva has added ample time for everything that’s gone before, but Mousehole can’t make it count and as the final whistle blows it ends in The Seagulls first defeat of the season, with a couple of defensive lapses and a handful of missed chances. Mousehole 1-2 Millbrook. Mousehole drop down to 9th in the early League table, and Millbrook go up to 4th. In ten days’ time they meet again!
MOUSEHOLE (with used substitutes)
Ollie Chenoweth (GK), Josh Otto, Mark Richards, Max Hill, Paulo Sousa (Josh Magin), Tallan Mitchell, Andy Elcock, Reece Thomson (Andy Watkins), Jack Calver (C) (Jared Sims), Louis Price (Callam Mconie), Hayden Turner. Other substitute: Jamie Devine.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Matt Eva (Referee) with Neil Rudkin and Dave Rowe (Assistant Referees)
ATTENDANCE: 195
NEXT FOR MOUSEHOLE
This Saturday, 20th August
Away at Torpoint Athletic
The Mill, PL11 2RE
Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round
Kick off 3pm
(Replay, if needed, next Tuesday 23rd August at Trungle Parc, 7.45pm)
Saturday 27th August
Away at Millbrook
Jenkins Park, PL10 1EN
Western League Premier Division
Kick off 3pm
Bank Holiday Monday, 29th August
HOME v Street
Western League Premier Division,
Kick off 3pm
